US host Kelly Ripa forced to work out of a janitor’s closet, shared bathroom with ‘Live’ audience while pregnant

Regis Philbin (left) and Kelly Ripa on set during Regis Philbin's final show of 'Live! With Regis & Kelly' on Nov 18, 2011, in New York. Photo: TNS

Kelly Ripa is coming clean about her “tough” start as Regis Philbin’s co-host on the nationally syndicated morning talk show Live.

In a new interview, the former All My Children actress detailed some of the challenges she faced upon joining the chatfest in 2001.

“It was very tough,” she said in a cover story for Variety's new “Power of Women” issue.

“Had I known how difficult it would have been, I don’t know that I would have gone for it. I just think my ignorance in that situation wound up being my blessing and my superpower. I did not have an easy time.”

Ripa, who now serves as an executive producer of the series, said some of the challenges she faced included a lack of benefits, no wardrobe budget and being kept in the dark about personnel changes.

“I was told that I couldn’t have an office,” the 52-year-old mother of three shared about the workplace environment. “It didn’t make a whole lot of sense, especially because there were empty offices that I could have easily occupied.”

After three seasons, Ripa said she was finally allowed to use a janitor’s closet.

Although her co-host Regis Philbin had a private bathroom at the studio, Ripa said she had to share use the public restroom along with the show’s studio audience.

“Particularly when I was pregnant, it was extraordinarily exhausting to have to wait in line,” Ripa said. “I have to host the show, and I’m still waiting in line to use the bathroom. It just seemed, you know, a very needlessly difficult situation.”

After many trials and tribulations, circumstances have improved for the six-time Emmy Award winner.

On April 17, after her current co-host Ryan Seacrest departs, Ripa will be paired with her husband, actor Mark Consuelos, who told Variety, “Even during the tough moments, my wife, she’s a worker. I’d like to think that she’s made a lot of sacrifices that have advanced the cause for women.”

The Daily News reached out to a representative at ABC who declined to comment. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service